Suffolk Mag August 2011

7/28/2019 Suffolk Mag August 2011

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CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS

MARCO PIERRE WHITENICK KNOWLES

GARY AVIS

suffolk.greatbritishlife.co.ukEAST ANGLIAN DAILY TIMES

SUFFOLKIssue 135 August 2011 £3.25

HIGH SUMMERIN SUFFOLK

PLUS: LAURA WRIGHT, RETURN OF SUFFOLK’S ANGEL

20 GREAT SUFFOLK DAYS OUT

PACK UP THE PERFECT PICNIC

WALK IN MAGICAL MEADOWS

PEASENHALL

DEBENHAM

WOODBRIDGE

ALDEBURGH

OUT AND

ABOUT

20 GREAT SUFFOLK DAYS OUT

PACK UP THE PERFECT PICNIC

WALK IN MAGICAL MEADOWS

SUFFOLK ON SCREEN ● THE MAN WHO BUILT A JAG ● SWEFFLING INTERIORS



114 SuffolkAugust2011

BoughtbyGeorgeGooderhamin1965,the

beautifulandimposingVictorianbuildings

thathouseSnapeMaltingswereoriginally

intendedforagriculturaluse.

Butallthatchangedwiththeestablishment

ofAldeburghMusicin1967,whenrenowned

composerBenjaminBrittenapproachedGeorge

aboutusingoneofthemaltingshousesasavenuefortheSummerProms.

Quicktospyanopportunity,GeorgeopenedThe

ShoponTheQuay,aconvertedboatshed,tosit

alongsidewhatthenbecameAldeburghMusic.

Withthesuccessofthisandtheteashopthat

followedsoonafter,itwasclearthemaltingswere

destinedforculturaluseandhadvastpotential.

NowJohnnyandAleshaGooderhamarecontinuing

theworkthatGeorge,whohassinceretired,began

bytransformingeachspaceintosomethingtruly

unique.

Thecollectionofbuildingshostsavarietyof

boutiqueshops,cafesandgalleriesallmadedistinctivebyextraordinarythemedwindows.

“TheideaofSnapewastoretainthehistoryofthe

buildings,notmakingthemclinicalbutactually

creatingwonderfulspacesinsideandgoodshops,”

explainsAlesha.

Andofcourse,shopsareoneofthehighlights.The

productsfoundattheMaltingsareallofthehighest

quality,betheyhomeware,food,artorclothing.

Thereisastrongemphasisonartisanalproducts

ofthekindthatcan’tbeproducedinbulkand

thisaddstothebespokenatureoftheshoppingexperience.

Snape’smerchandisersworkwiththousandsof

independentsupplierstomakesurethatthevery

bestBritishandEuropeancraftsmanshipisbrought

totheforefrontandcelebrated.

Aleshastressesthatthedecisiontousesmaller,

localsuppliersbreaksawayfromthegenericand

massproducedethosofthehighstreet,particularly

regardingfashion.

“Thebriefwiththeclothingsideistofindnice

stylishclothesthatareactuallyinasmallcollection,

soitfeelsthatyouboughtsomethingandyoureally

loveit.Also,clotheshaveanendurance–andnotpartofthisthingwhereyoubuyit,wearitandthen

disposeofit.”

Shesaystheiraimwastofindsmallerproducers

Snape Maltings

Breathingnewlifeinto

Setagainstastunningbackdropofwhisperingreedbedsandvastskies,SnapeMaltingshasbecomeamust-visitSuffolk

destination.Shekha Vyas caughtupwithAleshaGooderhamwhoexplainedwhytheMaltingsoffersashoppingexperiencetotallydifferenttothatofthehighstreet

SUFFOLK shopping

Above; the SnapeMaltings complex

set against ahuge Suffolk sky.Opposite; a look

inside some of themany differentshops at Snape

Maltings which selleverything from

food and furnitureto giftware andartworks.Farrightcentre; Alesha and

Johnny Gooderham



Suffolk August 2011 115

who can match Snape Maltings’ needs as a smaller

stockist.

“We can’t compete with the high street on

production or price points because we are smaller

– so the job of our buyers is harder and they do it

really well.”

Indeed this symbiosis between smaller

entrepreneurial businesses is what makes the

artisanal focus in Britain so important now.

The stock found at Snape Maltings shows these

small businesses are the key to giving the country

in general, and Suffolk in particular, a cultural

foothold and making it a distinctive destination for

wonderfully crafted goods.

As well as shops, Snape has several independent

galleries on site, and some carefully placed

sculptures. This eclecticism marries the

contemporary and the traditional, rendering the sitedifferent to other waterfront locations. The drama

of the landscape lends itself to cultural pursuits,

making it a perfect location to view intriguing and

contemporary art and listen to renowned musicians.

As the Maltings closes at the end of a day’s trading,

Aldeburgh Music opens, so visitors can spend an

entire day here. People can shop, eat, view art and

go on boat trips throughout the day and then listen

to some music in the evening.

The site itself is also extremely important to wildlife,

which lends another facet to the experience. With

the changing face of Minsmere, Snape is the next

heavily populated area for rare flora and fauna.It is in a sense, the gateway to the Suffolk coast,

particularly for wildlife.

So here, nature and art are drawn seamlessly

together. In a natural progression of utilising what

could have been a cluster of wasted buildings, the

complex really does seem like part of the land itself.

There is a strong ethos of restoration that

resonates within the Maltings. There are two full-

time maintenance staff in charge of restoring the

buildings and the future of Snape Maltings looks

extremely exciting.

Out of the seven acres on site, two thirds have been

painstakingly restored. The next project will be todevelop the final third. However the Gooderhams

are adamant that Snape will not move beyond that

space and will only do what is within its capacity. The

idea is to work on the existing space to make it the

best that it can be, continually improving to preserve

the future of this cultural icon, a ‘jewel on the Suffolk

coast’.

Alesha describes their role as custodians of Snape.

“You hope that while it’s under your tenure your do

a really good job. It represents the county well and

people are proud to bring their friends here,” she

says.

For more information on Snape Maltings visit

www.snapemaltings.co.uk




THISPAGE:TommyHilfigerdress,£80RalphLaurencardigan,£100.AllfromCaramel,47StNicholasStreet,IpswichTel:01473216797Star-printscarf:StylistsownOPPOSITE:HartfordJacket,£92,Hartfordredandbluescarf,£34.Abrobluepumps,£78.AllfromFanny&Frank,6MarketHill,WoodbridgeTel:01394384723www.fannyandfrank.com

Roundnecktanktop,£36atCollen&Clare,25MarketPlace,Southwold,Tel:01502724823www.collenclare.comFeverChaunceydenimtrouser,£69.99atBird,4bMarketHill,FramlinghamTel:01728727481.Necklace,£25fromCaramel




BLUE

Into the

Add a subtle nautical touch

to your summer wardrobe

with fabulous fashions in

shades of blue and cream,

all available from our

county’s leading boutiques

Fashion direction: Shekha Vyas

Photography: Clifford Hicks

Model: Maaike Mae Schoute

@ Sandra Reynolds

Hair: Craig Brunning @ Baiss and Co

using Tigi Catwalk Session Series

Make-up: Gemma Smith




Tommy Hilfiger blue silk blouse,£70, Tommy Hilfiger skirt, £70, bothat Caramel. Mirabelle fish necklace,£15 at Bird and Ursula Mascaro redplatform shoes, £159 at Fanny & Frank.All stockist details as page 118




GanninavyFultondress,£139,atBird.Anchornecklace,£30,fromaselectionatCaramel.Moschinoturquoiseheels,£150,atCaramel.Stockistdetailsaspage118




Guess by Marciano jacket, £300, at Caramel.Details as page 118Olsen Trousers, £95, atO&C Butcher, 129-131High Street, Aldeburgh.

Tel: 01728 452229www.ocbutcher.co.uk




Ganni playsuit £115, Fever belt£19.99. Both from Bird.Riva Barbet leopard shoe, £65.95from O&C Butcher.Stockist details as page 118

Documents

Suffolk Mag August 2011